Today I walked from my house a short mile to WalmartOn the way there I saw an entire familyA man, a wife, and 2 small childrenAsking for any change could be sparedBoth had lost their jobs last yearI gave them half the money in my pocketI saw a man no older than 25Sitting in front of the Inn 'n' OutWhatever left over table scraps you can spareMy brother gave him half the change in his pocket.I almost got back home to find 2 menBegging for any change for a funeral for a young boyWe gave them what we had left.Then I get home to hear The economy is getting betterNow that we're over the fiscal cliff

In reality, the economy is getting better. The problem is that it is only getting better for a select few. Wages aren't increasing, social welfare programs are being cut, and jobs are still getting shipped overseas. But from a pure how much money the US on a national scale is generating, from a pure how well US owned companies are doing, yes the economy is doing better.

I blame the current political climate on Keynesianism. It’s the ideology that supports greedy politicians looking for justification to spend money like crazy. Everything about it is backwards: debt is good and savings are evil!

Actually, I'm going to have to disagree with you on that. I would contend to say that it is the lack of Keynesianism that is driving the problem. The US GDP is doing much better, US companies are doing extremely well. But this wealth is centralized among the rich elite, but it's not reaching the average American.

"I would contend to say that it is the lack of Keynesianism that is driving the problem."

Our 4 trillion dollar debt would disagree. Decades of spending on credit and printing money on thin air has done nothing but increase our national debt, and the saddest part is that the Keynesians see it as a good thing. "Who cares if we're trillions in debts? Debt is a good thing. It's a sign that the government is spending, and government spending is del facto good."

Or maybe the bloated defense budget that counts for over 50% of discretionary spending, a ridiculously low effective tax rate, right wing voodoo economics and corporate welfare. It's not as if cuts need don't need to happen, but shouldn't the US deal with the aforementioned issues before cutting into programs that will only further drive income inequality?

“Or maybe the bloated defense budget that counts for over 50% of discretionary spending”

Which would still be government spending. Most fiscal conservatives and libertarians oppose current military spending, so I don’t see where you’re going with this. It should also be noted that most Keynesians credit military spending during WW2 for pulling us out of the Depression.

“A ridiculously low effective tax rate”

Which wouldn’t be a problem if spending wasn’t ridiculously high. The Bush Tax Cuts would have been good if not for the military spending through two wars and the Medicare D expansion. If you cut taxes AND raise spending, of course you’re going to go bankrupt. That’s as stupid as quitting your job and maxing out your credit card.

“right wing voodoo economics and corporate welfare”

Which most fiscal conservatives and libertarians reject. Republicans preach about free market capitalism, but once they get into power, become crony capitalists, pushing for regulations, taxes, and subsidies that favor their corporate donors.

“It's not as if cuts need don't need to happen, but shouldn't the US deal with the aforementioned issues before cutting into programs that will only further drive income inequality?”

Sure. Slash military spending and end corporate welfare. I’m 110% behind that. Of course, I’m also for entitlement reform, a flat tax, and a return to the gold standard, which I’m sure you and others who lean left-of-center are not.

A flat tax doesn't make sense because you are either not pulling in enough revenue or you are hurting middle class consumerism, which is the driving force of the economy. Hence why I like the idea of middle class tax cuts. Not sure what going to a gold standard would do, and I can understand some cuts to entitlements considering just how much debt the US is in.

So true...They need to get their heads out of their asses and stop worrying about their money and think about the people who need them to make the right choice for everyone else! They say they care but they don't. All it is these days is lies.